Vocabulary Level F Unit 1

approbation (noun) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval SYN: commendation, sanction ANT: disapproval, condemnation, censure NT

assuage (verb) to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench SYN: mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay ANT: intensify, aggravate, exacerbate

coalition (noun) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose SYN: alliance, league, federation, combine ANT: splinter group

decadence (noun) decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self- indulgence SYN: degeneration, corruption ANT: rise, growth, development, maturation

elicit (verb) to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person) SYN: call forth, evoke, extract, educe ANT: repress, quash, squelch, stifle

expostulate (verb) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning SYN: protest, remonstrate, complain

hackneyed (adjective) used so often as to lack freshness or originality SYN: banal, trite, commonplace, corny ANT: new, fresh, novel, original

hiatus (noun) a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing) SYN: pause, lacuna ANT: continuity, continuation

innuendo (noun) a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense SYN: insinuation, intimation ANT: direct statement

intercede (verb) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go- between in a disagreement SYN: intervene, mediate

jaded (adjective) wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence) SYN: sated, surfeited, cloyed ANT: unspoiled, uncloyed

lurid (adjective) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint SYN: gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly ANT: pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome

meritorious (adjective) worthy, deserving recognition and praise SYN: praiseworthy, laudable, commendable ANT: blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable

petulant (adjective) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset SYN: irritable, testy, waspish ANT: even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable

prerogative (noun) special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence SYN: perquisite, perk

provincial (adjective) pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple and plain design that originated in the countryside; (noun) a person with a narrow point of view, a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony SYN: (adjective) narrow-minded, parochial, insular, naïve ANT: (adjective) cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded

simulate (verb) to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of SYN: feign, pretend, affect

transcend (verb) to rise above or beyond, exceed SYN: surpass, outstrip

umbrage (noun) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion SYN: irritation, pique, annoyance ANT: pleasure, delight, satisfaction

unctuous (adjective) excessively smooth or smug; trying to hard to give an impression or earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable SYN: mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy ANT: gruff, blunt